Trivisa

Trivisa
Official film poster
Traditional	樹大招風
Simplified	树大招风
Mandarin	Shù Dà Zhāo Fēng
Cantonese	Syu6 Daai6 Ziu1 Fung1
Directed by	Frank Hui Jevons Au Vicky Wong
Produced by	Johnnie To Yau Nai-hoi
Screenplay by	Loong Man-hong Thomas Ng Mak Tin-shu
Starring	Gordon Lam Richie Jen Jordan Chan
Music by	Nigel Chan
Cinematography	Zhang Ying Ray Cheung Rex Chan
Edited by	Allen Leung David Richardson
Production company	Media Asia Films Milkyway Image
Distributed by	Media Asia Distributions
Release date	12 February 2016 (2016-02-12) (BIFF) 21 March 2016 (2016-03-21) (HKIFF) 7 April 2016 (2016-04-07) (Hong Kong)
Running time	96 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Budget	HK$5 million[1]
Box office	HK$9.2 million[2]

Trivisa is a 2016 Hong Kong action crime thriller film produced by Johnnie To and Yau Nai-hoi, featuring the directorial debuts of newcomers Frank Hui, Jevons Au and Vicky Wong. The film is a fictionalized story about three real-life notorious Hong Kong mobsters, Kwai Ping-hung, Yip Kai Foon and Cheung Tze-keung, who are portrayed in the film by Gordon Lam, Richie Jen and Jordan Chan respectively.^[3][4] The film had its world premiere at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival's Forum section.^[3] The film also opened the 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival^[5] on 21 March 2016 and was theatrically released in Hong Kong on 7 April.^[6]

In Buddhist teaching, Trivisa is the Sanskrit term for the three poisons (or the three unwholesome roots): greed, anger and delusion that give rise to suffering.^[7]

Plot

In early 1997, mobsters Kwai Ching-hung, Yip Kwok-foon and Cheuk Tze-keung, who have never met one another, are all in Hong Kong. Thereafter, rumour has it that Hong Kong's three most notorious mobsters, known in the underworld as the "Three Kings of Thieves", are plotting together to score a final hit before the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong. However, none are initially aware of the rumour.

Yip is living as a fugitive after a gunfight with the Royal Hong Kong Police. He now makes his fortunes by smuggling counterfeit electronics. Powerful and prestigious in the past, Yip must now grovel to high Chinese officials. Although successful in his business, he becomes depressed. When the rumour comes to him, he feels the urge to give up everything and pick up his gun once again to join forces with the others.

Kwai is very cautious and uses several pseudonyms to hide his identity. Although the scale of his crimes is nowhere as large as Yip's and Cheuk's, but he has managed to commit repeated robberies that are totally unknown to the police. Small-scale robberies, which have become his expertise, have minimal risk but also little profit. As he hears of the rumour, he realizes that he will make a large fortune by collaborating with Yip and Cheuk. He initially restrains himself and chooses to ignore it. However, Kwai begins to have second thoughts.

Cheuk has recently abducted the son of a rich tycoon and successfully extorted a ransom, all while under police surveillance. Wanting to raise the bar for himself, he hears about the rumour and becomes obsessed with the idea, going to extreme lengths to seek out Yip and Kwai.

Cast

Reception

Critical

Clarence Tsui of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive praising the performances of Richie Jen and Gordon Lam, the editing by Allen Leung and David Richardson and calls it "an impressive calling card signalling brighter cinematic futures."^[3] Fionaauala Halligan of Screen Daily praised the film's set design and editing and believes the film will "clearly attract festival interest.".^[8] Edmond Lee of the South China Morning Post rated film a score of 4/5 stars and praises the film's bold vision and how newcomer directors Frank Hui, Jevons Au and Vicky Wong "couldn't have made a stronger start to their fledgling careers."^[9]

Box office

The film grossed HK$3,392,095 during its first three days of release in Hong Kong and opening at No. 3 during its debut weekend.^[10] By the end of its fifth week, the film has grossed about HK$9,180,000.^[2]

Awards and nominations

See also

• Johnnie To filmography

References

External links

• Trivisa at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase
• Trivisa on IMDb